Mechanism for handling glassware



May 2, 1933.- o. c. K. HUTCHlN SON 1,906,604

MECHANISM FOR HANDLING GLASSWARE Filed Dec. 1,1930 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ay 2, o. c. K. HUTCHINSON 1,906,604

MECHANISM FOR HANDLING GLASSWARE 4 SheetsI-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1930 Q19 1 I I w vvll 1 "RN 7 0 F ihll w 0| Lu mm M ..in 3...:...:.....:...-.2.2.5.5....- I .L I [FD R M 4 MN a 1933- o. C. K. HUTCHINSON 1,906,604

MECHANISM FOR HANDLING GLASSWARE Filed Dec. 1. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y Y 2, 0. c. K. HUTCHINSON 1,906,604

MECHANISM FOR HANDLING GLASSWARE Filed Dec. 1, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I J 2 3b 3.6 a g Patented a... 2, i933 UNITED s r a'rss Parents oFFic E onivaa c. x. norciimsox, or anon. rumors. more! re owns-minors ona'aa ooxrailt, a ooarona'noil or one C irac na mm roa nannmim ena'aswani: a umiu a... as" 1, mo. m n lo. scam.

The. present invention relates .to improvements in mechanism for handling glassware such for example as bottles and ars. More particularly the invention is concerned with the removal and transfer of articles ofglassware from the finishing molds of a forming machine to an annealing leer.

An object of the present invention isthe' 1 provision of a continuously operating, completely automatic take-out and transfer mechanism capable of meeting the demands of the modern high speed glassware forming machines. I

A further object-is the provision of novel transfer mechanism by which bottles and the like articles, while quite hot and plastic, may

' be removed from the molds and transferred to an annealing leer without scratching or otherwise marr ng the articles. To this end the mechanism is arranged to cnga the neck portion only, such portion ord narily being chilled and set before the molds open,

' view with parts in elevation taken substan-- to an extent precluding scratching by the take-out mechanisins.'

Other objects will be in part apparent and in art pointed out hereinafter.

n the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aiplan view showing the operatin position of the present invent on.

Fig. 2 is a side e ovation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the relative positions of a pair of the transfer devices at the discharge endof their path of travel. s

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional tially along the line IV IV of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing one of the transfer devices about to removearticles from a finishing mold.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken alo'ng'the line V IVI of Fig. 5.

.Fig/Ljs a detail elevation showing the operating connection between one of the take-out and) transfer devices and the chain carrier. 4

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken substantially along the line IXI X of Fig. 7

shown. In machines of this t ands showing in addition the" supporting rai r Fig. I 10 is a vertical sectional elevation of the lower end of one of'the article supporting devices showing the article grippers and .a rtion of the mechanism for actuatin t e latter.

Fig. 11 is a lan view taken substantially along the line- I-XI of-Fig. 10. V

The forming machine 15 in conjunction with which the present invention is illustrated is more or less diagrammatically blanks or parisons are formed in Man molds (not shown) and transferred to partible finishin molds 16, in which said blanks are eitpan ed to final form preparatory to removal from said finishing molds at the discharge station D. These molds are arranged inan annular series and rotate continuously about a vertical axis so that they are brought in succession to said discharge station. The articlesof glassware are removed from the finishing molds 16 and by suitable transfer mechanism 17 are carried to across conve or 18 which in turn places the articles in row formation at the receiving end of an annealing leer 19 preparatory to being placed in said leer. This latter operation may be effected by any suitable mechanism (not shown). The take-out and transfer mechanism constituting the present invention, in more or less general terms, includes a series of tongs or grippers moving continuously in a closed path so that they are brought in succession to the discharge station D (this being the article engaging station for the take-out devices) where they support:

ingly en age finished articles in the finish-.00

the cross conveyor 18. These stations are 951 on' opposite sides of the ath of travel of the take-out and trans er devices. The transfer devices 20 move in synchronism with movement of the finishing molds 16 so that the molds an transfer dev ces am in relative aligfiment at the discharge station D.

The construction involved in the take-out and transfer mechanism comprises a series of take-out and transfer devices suitably bearing 27 at the upper end or a vertical standard 28. These standards 26 and 28 also carry'sets of horizontal arms 29 which support pairs of guide rails 30. These guide rails form a continuous track defining the path of travel of the carrier chain 21 on which the take-out and transfer devices 20 are supported. A hanger 31 at the upper end of a standard 32 supports intermediate portions of the guide rails 30. Each combined take-out and transfer de-' vice 20 comprises separable tongs .or grippers 32 arranged at the outer end of a takeout arm 33 which is pivoted at one'end to a carrier block 34, the latter suitably connected at its ends to the carrier chain 21. Each carrier block 34 is provided with uide rollers 35 which run in the guide rai s 30 so that the block and elements carried thereby move with the chain in the closed path defined by the pair of guide rails.

The take-out arm 33 is mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane about a hinge pin 36-a1'1d-a spacing sleeve 37, the

latter maintaining the depending ears 38 in proper spaced relation so that the arm 33 may freely swing between its extreme positions. For the purpose of effecting the desired swinging movement of the arm 33, cam controlled rack and pinion mechanism individual to the take-out and transfer deviceis employed. This mechanism (Figs. 7 and 8) includes a pinion or gear segment 39 constantly meshing with a rack bar 40 which is adjustably connected to a slide block 41, the latter being mountedin slideways 42 for movement in a direction-transverse to the path of travel of the carrier chain 21. A cam roll 43 mounted on the upper side of the slide block 41 is adapted for alternate engagement with two stationary cams 75 and 76 referred to hereinafter,

so that through the rack and pinion mech-- anism oscillatory movement may be imparted to the take-out arm. The adjustable connection between the rack bar '40 and slide block 41 allows the operator to regulate and control the angle of inclination of the'arm 33 in its extreme positions and the extent of swinging movement of said arm.

",The construction,- allowing such adjustment consists of an adjusting screw44 extending lengthwise of the slide block 41 and thread ed through an upstanding lug 45 on the rack bar 40, said lug projecting into an upwardly opening way 46 in said slide block. By rotatin the screw 44 the rack bar 40 is moved re ative to the slide block transversely of the carrier block so that the extreme positions of the tongs 32 may be changed as desired.

The tongs 32 or grippers which support ingly engage the neck portions of the bottles or jars, correspond in number to that of the cavities in eachfinishing mold. In the present disclosure each finishing mold has two cavities and, therefore, under normal operating conditions brings two finished into the hollow head 50, said fingers being,

connected together by a spring 52 which tends to yieldingly hold the tongs in operative position.

The tongs or grippers are periodically opened at regular time intervals by a cam 53 arranged within the head between the fingers 51. This cam is connected to a short shaft 54 (Figs. 10 and 11) which in turn is connected through a section of flexible shafting 55 to the main 0 crating or rock shaft 56, the latter extending axially of the tubular arm 33 and journaled in bearings 57.

Oscillationof the shafts 54, 55, and 56 for the purpose of imparting corresponding movement to the cam 53 so that the aws are opened periodically, is obtained by rocking a lever or finger 58 which is suitably secured to the inner end of the shaft 56 and extends through a radial slot 59 in the arm 33. The end walls of the slot 59 serve as stops limiting the extent of rocking movement of the finger 58 -under influence of, a spring 60. This spring 60 (Figs. 6 and 7) is arranged so that it qui kly moves to one of its extreme positions 1m ediately after said finger has been movedpast the dead center by other means presently to be described. While the tongs are approaching the discharge station D they are held open by the cam 53. When the discharge station is reached,"

the finger 58 is reversed to'shift the cam 53. This permits the spring 52 (Fig. 10) to actuate the tongs or grippgrs so that they may engage the necks of the latter are in the finishing molds. The said reversal of'the finger 58 is effected b a cam actuated plunger 61 4, 7 and 9% ttles or jars while extending vertically through the carrier block 34. This plunger is normally held in ltS'llPPGllllOSt position by'a spring 62, and. in such sition is adapted, as it approaches the disc arge. station D to beAengaged by'a stationary cam 63 which is suitably suported on-one of the guide rails 30in prox-' unity to the discharge station D .This cam presses the plunger downward, causing said reversal of the fin er 58 and rocking of the shafts54, 55 an o 56 and permitting the-spring 52 to close the tongs about the necks of articles in the mold. A plunger 64 s seed from the other plunger 61 also extion involved (Figs. 3, 4, and 10) includes '70 on the head and an ad'usta 1e. setment between the tongs and ten s vertically through the carrier block. 34 and is held in .its uppermost position by a coil spring 65. When the tongs, with the articles held thereby, reach the station .E, the plunger 64 is moved'downward under infiuence of a stationary cam 66 so' that it moves the finger 58 downward (see Fig. 9) and rocks theshafts 54, 55, 56, whereby the cam 53 is operated to open the tongs at the station E for the purpose of placing bottles or jars u on the cross conveyor 18. The spring ig. 6) holds the finger 58.andcam in this last mentioned position until again actuated by the plunger 61, so that the tongs remain open until station- D is again reached.

By referencelto Figs. 4 and 5 it will be' noted that the tong carrying head 50 is 1 adapted to occupy various angular positions relative to the take-out arm 33, this being provided for by pivotal connection between the head and take-out arm. The oonstruc a pair of upstanding ears 67 on the upper. si e of the ead 50 and car 68 at the outer end of the takeout am, said ears being con-- nected by-a hinge in 69. This. hinge pin 69 is disposed para] el with the hingepin 36 at the upper end of the take-out arm 33. For the pur of limiting swinging movement of the ead 50 in one direction, relative to the take-out arm, an adjustable 'stop s provided, including an upstandi finger screw" 71 at the lower end of t e take-out arm 33. Byykadjustiug the screw 71, accurate alignmen of the tongs or gri pets with the finishing mold cavities may l insured; In this connection it is obvious by "referenceto Fig. 5 that the head 50 must extend andid with the upper end surface of the nishing mold in order to obtain roper engagettles.

The take-eutand transfer arms (Figs.

and '5), are adapted to swing outwardly relativeto the path of travelfof the carrier chain 21 as they approach the discharge station b, so that the tongs may support- ..iilnglengage articles of glassware in the firis ing'inolds. "Later the arms are swung in the opposite direction (FigsIfZ and 4) 118 may be and of such 'sha preparatory to placing the articles upon the cross conveyor 18 at the article releasing station E. A cam 75 is secured to the upr side of the outer guide rail 30 in proximityto the discharge station D, and is of such shape. that it operates the rack and pinion mechanism in a manner to swing the the inner guide rail 30in such position that it causes a reverse operation of the rack and I pinion mechanism resulting in swinging the take-out arin inwardly .to approximately the position. shown in Fi s. 2 and 4. The takeout arm is maintaine in such position until it has assed the cross conveyor 18 after which it maybe lowered withoutinterfer ence from. the latter.

The movements of the take-out and tra'nsfer devices in synchronism with the operation of the forming machine '15 is obtained through the provision of driving connection betweenthe machine .and one-of the shafts 23. The drive shaft 78 is driven by a ring v gear 79 through bevel gears" 80 and imparts rotary movement to the shaft 23 by .way of .a pair of meshing bevel gears 81 (Fig. A pinion 79" rotates the ring gear. S u1table means (not shown) may be provided for changing the'relative positions of the finishing molds 16 and combined take-out and transfer devices 203 as maybe necessary to obtain satisfactory operating conditions.

tinuously. A nishing mold 16 and combined take-out and transfer devices 20 are simultaneously brought to the discharge,

station D.- The cam 75 swings the take-. out arm (Fig. 5) to a position in alignment with the corresponding finishing mold.

The tongs or grippers are now actuated so that they supportingly engage the necks of vthe articles of glassware enclosed in the finishing molds. As stated heretofore the cam 63 operates through the plunger 61 and the shafts within the take-out arm 33 to shift the cam- 53'and permit the spring 52 to op-. crate. the tongs or grippers. It is understood that the tongs have been held open by the cam 53 during travel from the article releasing station E to station D.

Immediately upon proper engagement of thetongs with the bottles or other articles,

the finishing mold 16 is opened by any conventional mechanism (not shown) leaving the bottles entirely supported by said tongs. The cam 75 (Fig. 1) asstated heretofore, is that itallows the take-out In operation, the forming machine 15, transfer mechanism 17, and cross conveyor preferably are operating conarm to gra u'ally' assume a'pendent position while'moving away from the discharge station D toward the releasing station E. approaches the station E (Figs. 1, 2, and 4) the stationary cam 76 operates through the rack and pinion mechanism 40 to swing the arm 33 into a substantially horizontal position so that the bottles. assume positions over and in close proximity to the ware supporting reach of the cross conveyor 18. At the proper moment the cam 66 operates through the shafts 54, 55, and 56 and the cam 53, to open the tongs and release the articles. After the take-out and transfer devices have passed beyond the cross conveyor 18 on their way back to the discharge station D they are allowed toswing downwardly to a pendent position.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended. claims. What I claim is:

1. In combination, a series of combined article take-out andtransfer devices movable in a closed path past article engaging and releasing stations, said stations being disposed on opposite sides of the path, means forimparting continuous movement to the devices, each device including a pendent arm, article supporting means at the lower end of the arm, means for swinging the arm in a vertical plane at ri ht angles to thepath of travel of the series of de-.

vices for alternately (placing said device in article engaging an releasing ositi'ons, and means for operatin the artic e engaging means in timed relation to movement iof the device. I

2. In combination, a series of combined Y swinging said arm, and means in part controlled by swinging movement of the arm to operate the article supporting means.

3. In combination, a series of combined take-out and transfer devicesmovable in a closed path and in succession past article engagin and releasing statibns, said stations i travel "and spaced apart. len hwise thereof, and endless carrier supporting the devices, means for imparting continuous'movement to the carrier, each device comprising a takeout arm having pivotal connection to the carrier and adapted to swing in a vertical plane below the carrier and in a plane trans verse to said path of travel, article supportmg tongs at the lower end of the arm, auto- As the'take-out and transfer device on, opposite sides of the path of matic means for swinging the arm and tongs to opposite sides of the path of travel of the carrier and togethervwith travel ofthe carrier alternately place the tongs at the article engaging and releasing stations, and means for operatin the tongs in timed relatlon to movementso the arm.

4. In combination, a series of combined take-out and'transfer devices movable in a closed path past a discharge station and an article releasing station, means for continuou sly moving said devices, each device comprising a pendent arm, article supporting opposite sides of the path, each device including a carrier block, an arm pivoted thereto for vertical swinging movement below the block in a, plane transverse to said path, automatic means in part carried by the block for swinging said arm, a tong carrying head pivoted to the lower end of the arm, tongs on said head, and automatic means for actuating the tongs in timedrelation to swinging of the arm.

6. In combination, an endless carrier movable in a horizontal plane, a carrier block mounted on said endless carrier, at take-out arm pivoted to and depending from said block, article supporting tongs at the outer 'end of' said arm, means for imparting continuous movement to the carrier, means actuated by the movement of the carrier to swing the arm and tongs in a vertical lane transverse to the direction of travel 0 the carrier to thereby alternately position the tongs in article engaging and releasing positions, said positions arranged on opposite sides of the endless carrier, and means for actuating the tongs causing them to alternately engage and release articles. J

7. Incombination, an endless carrier movable in a horizontal plane, a'car ier block mounted on said endless carrier, take-out arm pivoted to and depending from said block, article supporting tongs at the outer end of said arm, means for imparting con, tinuous movementto the carrier, means actuated by the movement of the carrier to swing the arm and tongs in a vertical plane transarticle engaging and releasing. positions,

' verse to thedire'ctionof travel of the carrier -to thereby alternately position the tongs in the endless carriage, and means actuated by movement of the carrier and carrier block to cause the tongs to alternately engage and release articles.

8. In combination, an endless carrier movable in a substantially horizontal plane, a

carrier block thereon, a take-out arm pivoted to and depending from said block, article supporting tongs on the outer end of said them on the other side thereof.

9. In combination, an endless carrier movable in a substantially horizontal plane, a

carrier block thereon, a take-out arm pivoted to and depending from said block, article supporting tongs on the outer end of said arm, said arm mounted for vertical swinging movement in a plane transverse to the direction of travel of the carrier block, cam controlled rack and pinion mechanism for swinging said arm between stations at opposite sides of the path of travel of the block and carrier, means for actuating the tongs whereby they supportingly engage articles on one side of the carrier and release them on the other side thereof, and means for adjusting the rack and pinion mechanism to regulate the extent of swinging movement of said arm and tongs.

10. In combination, an endless carrier movable in a substantially horizontal plane, a carrier block thereon, a take-out arm pivoted to and depending from said bl0ck,article supporting tongs on the outer end of said arm, said arm mounted for vertical swinglane transverse to the.

ing movement in a y direction of travel 0 the carrier block, cam

controlled rack and pinion mechanism for swingin said armbetween stations at o posite sides of 'the path of travel of t e lock and carrier, means for actuating the tongs whereby they supportingly engage varticles on one side of the carrier and. re-

- end of the shaftand said tongs.

11. A combined take-out and transfer device comprising a carrier block, a depending take-out arm connected at-its upper end to the lower side of said block b a horizontal ivot, a tonfg carrying hea pivoted to the ower end 0 the arm, article supporting tongs on said head, means including arack and pinion for swinging the arm in a vertical plane to thereby alternately place the tongs in article engaging and releasing positions, said rack being mounted to reel rocate on the carrier block and the pinion xed to said arm concentric with said pivot, and means for actuating said tongs.

. 12. A combined take-out and transfer device comprising a carrier block, a depending take-out arm pivotally connected at its upper end to the lower side of said block by a horizontal pivot, a tong carrying head pivoted to the lower end of the arm, article sup orting tongs on said head, meansinclu ing a rack and pinion for swinging the arm ina Vertical plane to thereby alternately place the tongs in article engaging and releasin positions, said rack being mounted to reciprocate on the carrier block and the pinion fixed to said arm concentric with said pivot, means for actuating said tongs, and means for adjusting the rack and pinion mechanism to vary the extent of swinging article engaging and releasing positions,

said article releasing position" being disposed below said carrier and substantially at the axis of said arc, and means for actuating said devicestand causing them to engage articles at said article engaging position, transfer. them from said engaging position to the releasing position, and release them at said releasing position, saidlast mentioned means holding the article engaging portions of the holding devices at said releasing position during the release of the articles.

14. A combined take-out and transfer mechanism comprising an endless carrier movable in a horizontal closed path, a portion of said path being in the arc of a circle, the center of which is within the area bounded by said path, a carrier block on said carrier, a take-out arm pivoted to said block and depending therefrom, articlesupporting tongs on the lower end of said arm, meansfor swinging said arm from an article receiving position to a discharging station beneath said carrier and 1 substantially at the axis of said are and holding said arm in such position that said ton s are held at the discharging station during the travel of said block along said arc, and means controlled by the movement of said block for actuating the tongs to re lease an article at the discharging'station. Signed at Alton, Illinois, this 24th day of November 1930.

' OLIVER C. K. HUTCHINSON.

including mechanism for 1 

